Louis L. McAllister Photographs

Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near
Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on
October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT)
and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a
photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus,
Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left
Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900,
Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as
photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.

In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872
in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City
Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography
studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N.
Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City
Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held
spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography
business from home until his death in 1963.

McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him
familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state
police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many
of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department
projects, as well as group and individual portraits.

The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction
projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering
the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street,
bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group
portraits of clubs, schools, etc.

Salvage Project.
Trolley track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont.
This view taken in front of Burlington City Hall (right) while the last rail was being pulled on June 25, 1943, shows the special rail pulling equipment including the device for the "rolling pull" on the rail shown at the end of the "A" frame. In the background beyond city hall is a mansard roof building (corner of Church and Main) used for worship by the First Baptist Church of Burlington from 1845-1864.

Undated view of St Paul Street at the intersection of College Street. Construction workers lay asphalt resurfacing the street. Steam roller seen to the right. Also to the right is City Hall Park. Howard Bank building behind the workers at the intersection. Also seen on College St. is T.S. Peck Insurance Agency, E S Adsit Coal Co.

October 1947.
Construction of the Vermont National Guard Hangar in Burlington showing the steel arch structure. Workmen and airplanes seen. Work by Wright & Morrissey Contractors of Burlington. Photo #7.